Flow control system



Aug. 9, 1949; e. E. MOODY 2,473,702

FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM I Filed Aug. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet].

INVENTOR.

George E. Moody BY ATTORNEY.

Aug. 9, 1949. I I e. E. MO ODY 2,478,702

FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM I Filed Aug. 15, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

George E. Moody ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1949 emu]: STATES emf-em REESSUED .EL 'W CONTROL :SXsTEM George Mutin :elenjaege; Clif. g licationim usus, 194,2, Sefia1=NoA14l7 10Clains'.

upto the maximum presisiireof themain Ior predetermined pefie'ds df time. I 4 I Where-large areas are to be supplied .With Water from a single main, it'is commemprecticetmpro vide :a. plurality 0f val-Yes -.c0ntrp11in g .di fiepe t groups of spririklers' adapted mtg beope retedguecess'ivly .so a to obtaih -ma ximulp yedventa ge from the pressure in the main ,while permittipg the utili'zttidn fof.a, minimum number of spyay nozzles. The zs eparate valves vmay be r etueted to open=andelose mechanically mtsuc'oession untilthe entireareahaebee serviced. V H H "Most Qspririk'ler .instell l tions are supplied with water frbm a, pipe, leading from the :mai by which other fixturesfiare serviced. I1; pgderjzp dbviate any. Lte'ndeneypf water discharged. {rem the sprinkler system from beings i1:vl 1 n e :i; lgn ac k into the. pipes (if the sprinkler system .frpm which it might 'beslibsequ'eritly drawn -i nto ;the main 9; pipes leading to' other fixtures, it-is desirahlegnd 'in many m'u'riicipalitiesit is requ iredyhygam that eliti siphon valves of some form bep rpvided .be-

tween each ifixture and the .velve c oh-tholling the flo'w to thatfixture. 'Where the flow tq difierent groups of spririklers Iis 'contrelled bylindividuel valves lit is .cotly to provide-separate ahtiwsiph n valves Tier eeh group of sprinklel s. Moreover, 1-4 as the anti-siphon valvee must be loeateiebpve thelevl of 'the gmund in qrliep temenhpnQperly, theuse of a ,plurlity pf .,sueh.devices i s unsightly.

'It 'is .a .ptinipall object v0'1 the present inyem tion totpr'ovi deha sprinklerfsystemhf the -.e he.1-

acter above .alllu'ded to, embodying a, .series .pf individuall valve-controlled eprinkler greup the flow to whichis controlled by armaster alve ef fective to openbefore the'first 0f the .series of thelast 0f the sprinkler vallves Closes.

I Another fob-ject is the provision .df v a, .system having a valve for controlling the fiqwfto the entire system,whichincorporates 'afsin gle antis'ibh'on valvever'it'efl tot'he ainanti \iriterpuse'd in (01. tel-'7') the flow line between the master valve 11111111211131 zellyesf ley fwhih {f1 to the Sprinklers ofithe i'espet ix' e' gfeup's 1's .0 olled.

"A mm? Pofijgct Ito 1 5 9 3 1 111 7 1 Y Y j y p ik f N ESR v, M A, manuall orib suitableele'citric motor, seleci 1+ he 7 Q hei'. ia' fis n porresponain adv a es 31 g .agr'an emfit hiygeridus val e'ng hg anisms yperti cula ilygthe relative 'fdis.

er 7 reme Y th Tape.

which Outlet 12 a-gs ne u'neigepe eh a qf tubule? member 'ls"rorms .-a tl'l5i'fora 50 member l6 disposedinthe' hj'thfea fie.

JAN 9 t 195;;

Valve member l6 comprises an annular rubber body I! disposed on a central core l8 and reinforced by an encircling band l9. Adjacent the lower end of rubber body I! an annular flange is formed which slideably engages the wall of the housing above outlet |2. The upper end of the valve housing is diametrically enlarged to accommodate the upper flange 2| of valve member l6 which is of greater cross-sectional area than the lower end of the rubber body. A pressure chamber 22 is formed above valve member |6 by a circular plate 23 enclosing the upper end of the housing. An adjusting screw 24 threaded through plate 23 provides a stop for determining the upward movement of valve 6. The valve member is normally closed by the pressure of water introduced into the pressure chamber 22 through a tube 25 leading from a control unit, generally indicated by the numeral 26, about to be described. Tube 25 is threaded into the upper wall of the housing and communicates with a vertical channel 21 formed in the wall. The channel intersects with a transverse channel 28 in the underside of top plate 23 opening into the pressure chamber 22.

The control mechanism (Figs. 1 to 4) is enclosed in a conveniently accessible casing 29 supported by a hollow standard 30. A subfloor 3| of casing 29 is formed with an opening into which a circular plate 33 is snugly fitted. Superimposed I on plate 33 is a valve disk 34 forming the floor of a valve chamber 35 later referred to. The floor 36 of the casing overlying subfloor 3| overhangs the plate 33 and disk 34 and is bolted to the plate through the disk so as to clamp the last-named members together. A suitable gasket 31 is interposed between plate 33 and disk 34 to prevent leakage.

A circular head 38 is secured to disk 34 by screws or the like to compress an annular gasket 39 located between head 38 and disk 34 so as to efiect a seal therebetween and form the fluidtight valve chamber 35 within the head. Extending through a central boss 40 in the head is a valve stem 4| which is adapted to be rotated selectively by hand or by mechanical means, as will be described. The upper part of the bore of the boss 40 is enlarged to receive a packing gland 42 threaded therein to obviate leakage around stem 4|. A hearing for the lower end of the valve stem 4| is formed by a central opening in disk 34, as indicated at 43. A plate 44 is mounted by suitable means to valve stem 4| within the valve chamber 35 so as to rotate with the stem and provide reinforcement for a valve member 45 composed of compressible material such as rubber, leather, fiber or the like, secured thereto. Valve member 45 is generally circular but is formed with a lateral projection 46 (Fig. 4) of approximately 70 in length. The undersurface of the projection is formed with an arcuate groove 41 adjacent and parallel to its outer edge, from one end of which groove 41 a radial groove 48 extends inwardly. An elongated port 49 is provided in valve member 45 in a circle concentrio with stem 4| intersecting the radial groove 48 intermediate its ends. The port 49 is spaced circumferentially from the last-named groove 48 to the side of the latter opposite to which the arcuate groove 41 extends. The valve member 45 is resiliently retained in fluid-tight contact with the valve disk 34 by a-helical spring 40 encircling valve stem 4| in valve chamber 35 between head 38 and plate 44.

Water under pressure in the main is admitted 4 into the valve chamber 35 through a tube 5| which is connected to pipe ID, i. e., intermediate the main and the master valve The opposite end of tube 5| extends upwardly through the tubular mounting 38 of the control unit 26 and is secured by soldering or other suitable means in a port 52 through the plate 33 in alignment with the side wall of head 38. A hole 53 through valve disk 34 in registry with port 52 communicates tube 5| with a hole 54 extending upwardly through the side Wall of head 38 to adjacent the top of the valve chamber 35. A lateral port 55 in the wall of the head interseating with the hole 54 completes unrestricted communication between pipe [0 and the valve chamber 35.

Tube 25 leading from the upper pressure chamber 22 in master valve extends through the mounting 30 and is similarly connected to plate 33 in an opening 56 which registers with a hole 5! through valve disk 34 in the circle of movement of the portion of the valve member 45 in which port 49 is located. It will thus be observed that when valve member 45 is turned to register the port 49 with the hole 51 in valve disk 34, water entering valve chamber 35 from tube 5| is permitted to flow into the upper pressure chamber 22 of the master valve and to maintain the pressure of the main on the valve member IS in the latter. Due to the difierences in cross-sectional area between the upper and lower surfaces of valve 6, the pressure of the water thereabove will maintain said valve closed so as to prevent water from passing through the master valve into a pipe 58 connected therewith leading to the various sprinkler group valves 59, hereinafter described.

The outlet pipe 58 leading from the side of master valve extends above the level of the ground indicated by the numeral 60 where it is connected to an anti-siphon valve fitting 6| which is arranged with its interiorly threaded inlet 62 and outlet 63 in horizontal alignment. The central bulb 64 of the fitting is divided by a partition 65 into an upper chamber 66 communicated with the outlet 63, and the lower chamber 61 connected to the inlet 62 of the fitting. An intermediate portion of partition 65 is ported as at 68 to communicate chambers 66 and 61 on opposite sides thereof. A poppet-type gravity-operated valve 69 located in the upper chamber 66 is adapted to seat on a circular bead 18 surrounding the port 68. The upper chamber is vented through a hollow plug 1| threaded into an opening in the upper Wall of the fitting in alignment with the port 68. The lower end of the plug forms a circular valve seat 72 which, with the plug threaded into the fitting, is disposed concentric with bead l0. Integral with the bore of the plug a guide (not shown) is formed, through which the stem 13 of the valve 69 slidably extends so as to retain the valve in operative relationship with its respective seats 18 and 12. 14 indicatesa dome, supported above the upper open end of plug TI to prevent debris from entering the vent and fouling the valve.

A pipe 15 connected to the outlet 63 of the anti-siphon fitting 6| leads to each of a series of valves 59 controlling the flow into separate groups of sprinklers (not shown) to which water is to be supplied, successively. The valves 59 are identical in construction with the master valve l, the pipe 15 being connected to the inlet in the lower end of each of said valves. From the side outlet 16 of the respective valves 59,

snipe '1 teens to thesparticnlarispmnlclereheads controlled by that valve. H'I hewal-vezmembers 2H5 of the respective valves 5!) are '-nornc'azllyzheld their lower :closed ep'o'sition the I-pressure or water "admitted into :the wupper lpressu-re chamber 22 through a series of' tubes 180 'f-rom-zthe conitrol nmit. llubes rall'iextend trom their respective valves upwardlyithmughztheitubularsmounting 530 into easing z siwherez'they eareconnectediin ports 28:] :initherunderside of: the'iplatex registering and communicatingwwith holes 82 Lin 'valvwtlisk 34 .whic'h open'ainto the valve chamber-335 in the circle of movement of the arcuatei'groove mclirln the lateral rprojection :46 i of.irth-e'- vazlve imember 45. The holes :82 in valve disk-:34 arerspaced ,aparti'a greater iclist'ance it-han tthez circumferential length of ithe projection 4'6 :of the valve member, 'zthe arcuate gro'ove- 1217' of whichais brought? into-:registry with saii'd' holes F82 asuccess-i-vel-ysin :thenoperation of the device. When the mechanism is'lnot inopenation, the projectionslfi-ro'f Maddie smember 125 'is :disposedabetween :avpair aofithe holes 82sec that .each :hole in sopenggcommunication with the valve "chamber'i35. With -:.the rotary valve member 45 so positioned, the w-aterw-pressuresin the .valve chamber :35 Will be communicated through the various holes82 to-theupperchamber 2210f the respective valves 59 'to-lmainta'in said ralves 'closed. i

The :inner end of 1 the radial :.'groove '48 in the rotaryvalve member :45 terminatesiabove az'circular channel 83 formed-invalve diska314,slrra:ri-ng .atradius of a length iless than the-distance between the axis oithestem-rdl iandlthe elongated port-t l9 in the 'vaIVemember-AS. The channel $3 is communicated through registering'iports 84 and'IBSin the valve disk and: plate 33, -re spec-- tively, with a drain tube 86 g-seoured 11in; port :35 at 413113 underside ofthe plate. gDrainztube-fifiileads through the tubular mounting 13 9' to; the outside of the apparatus to drain the water: from the upper chambers 2 2-:Qf1th8q1651366fiV valves;v so as to relieve pressure .on the valvemiembers 1156 therein, asuwill appear. 7

, The valve-member AS-lsadaptedto be-rotated at a predetermined constant speed through a :gear 87 rotatably mounted on valve stem 24;! "To this end the stem is formed with and nnula-r groove 88 above the'ipacking glandafl. :ArpiniBB extending through theh-ubof the. gear 81 is inter-- cepted :by groove 881110 sup portrthe gear on stem 3:! without interfering with independenti rotative movement of the valve r-stem. A ratchet Wheel 9.6 encircles the stemeM- abo-ve gear 81. up standing hubel of wheelalll provides a; mounting tor a ring 92 composed ofrnonconducting ma- .terial. The 'wheel Slfl, ring 92and-=stema4l are connected non-rotatably by 1a pinE-'93- which tex- .tends through these :parts. 1A1 pawl 94 -is pivoted .tothe top of gear BIzand is rurged into engagement with the teeth of the'jratchet wheel-Sully aiwire spring :95 I sothat clockwise movement iof-igear 8.? will be transmitted to *ratchetrwheel'tslliand :the stern 16 i, :but permitting "manual .zclockwise movement of the stemindependentzof the gear 1 for purposes later described. The; gear this turned by a motor'i96- connected ;wi;thrthe"former ethrough suitable reductiongearingigenerally inv-dicated at 91. .7

Valve stem 4! iextends rupwardly ithrough a transverse panel 98 in theiaupper part officasing 29 and has secured thereto-an indicator M which aoverliesa dial :1 0llvcarriedJbyHpaneBQBE to indicate thei position of valve 1S5 and associated-mocha manualzadiushnent,.aasrwill-zlappear." :Zflhe c611 ergization :ofxmotor 2&6 iSlt C01'lt10H6dYby1aibHHe switch imecha'nism 20f qcenventional "construction which 'includes ;a clock (not :shown) enclosed within a iihousing 1M amounted on .rthe aside LOZE easing12 9. An Eauxilliary switch .(not: shown) the same cireuiti-through lthesmotor is controlled by aknob 4.1202 bywthe .panel. :Withrthe switch controlledibyrknob i=l02sclosed, the clock mechanism may be; adjusted to -.complet -,=-the jmcui and initiatethe energization or vmotor-915 atqany time inf the day or mi ht and :for any d s red pe iod. :A dial and tneed'le Iu 3imshovvn: in ian opening in housing: ml ar provided totfacilitat this iadinstment. 2A arh ostat .(not shown) in the ircuit-is manually adjusted bvza knob MM to'wary tliezsneed-of the-motor. After the motor flfi ziszstartcdaas aboveoescribedsanauxi1ia mir= .afinidependcnt iOI the timer switch Tbvi? rm manly ontrolled by the kneb-operatedz-smtchi. is cl sed bye-switch licfi'compnisingiazpai of narallelh prin ne smntaots :l 06., each secured atone, end to a suitable mountingbelowpanelisll; with the Opposi e 'iadaiacent :ends of the spring fingers Int-riding on :an 'arcuate electric contact l e-l secureditosthe' upper surface priming- 92. with thezapp tatus atjrest the fingers-l D6 bear upon-the 1 mg 92 between thezends of zthe contactzl 511130;; to maintain :theqcircuit controlled-thereby Open.- Slight rotative"mcvementxofvring .92 initiated by theclosing ofrthezc'lock controlledswitchuis 6f.

fectiveto shifit the contact into engagementrwith theends=of iboth :fingfil'swlflfiisO as toclose the auxiliary circuit to anotpr 96. Energization :of motor 96 for a complete ,cycle of operation will thus be :assured-bythe closinigof switch H35; the operator '{desires the apnaratuszto operate througho-ne complete 'cycle :and then :stop, it-he time mechanism will :be :preadiusted to maintain thecircuit controlled thereby closed forsa'xperiod uflicientforthe c ntact 1. .0:! to-move'into en ement -.with---fingers 'l'06'so as to :close :thezauxiliary cirouih-but less than the time required for the valve :;member 45 to :pomplete wo'ne revolution. the time ;sw-i tchwwi-1l open its circuit zbefore completionxof-the cycle iofioperation; liarid motor 96 willlcontinue to operate )in response :to thefeleeme abit-rent :suppliedst each the auxiliary circuit centmlledsby sswitch --I:Jl5; fill/hen the cycle 18001111316136, spring fingers 1 l ,06 will ride .o'ff "lithe contact. onto ring 92 between the ends of contact 4.01, openingthe circuit and stopping themotor. It will be apparent that ifthe operator' 'wishes the apparatus-to continue -:to operate for two for more completeoycles-the timeswitch shouldxbe adjusted to maintain-the:cir-cuitcontrolled thereb v-"closed until. sufiicient time has ":elapsed 'ffbr the completion of -;all of thesuccessive: cycles of operation-zexcept" the last one, and to break the circuit during the. last operation, upon the com pletion ofavhich switch-4052157111 open as above described-"stopping tlhe motor.

. When jns'talled'aas a-hereinabove described," the operationsof the system is as follows: The switch controlled "bys-knolbz-lm is first closed, will enable.:energization of motor '96 'uponthe subsequent 'closing or" the timer switch. The'tiime at which the system is to be started and number-of cycles 1ir-zoperation are then determined by ad iustment' of" the timer MI. *The period during which -'-water is to be supplied toeach 'set of sprinlclersfidurmg each cvc'le'of operation may also ladpredtermind by -adjustment ofthe rheostat by manipulation of 1 knob 10A. 1 'Ihe circuit j to snism a't anwastagezof itsToperat-iom and -toas'sist- 7 motor 96 willbesubsequentlyclosedin accord- 7. ance with the adjustment of the timer initiating clockwise rotation of the gear 8! through the reduction gearing 91. The pawl 94 transmits this movement to ring 92 and arcuate contact ID! which is moved into engagement with the fingers I06, as above described, to close the auxiliary circuit to the motor 96. The valve stem M is slowly turned, incident to this operation, so as to turn the valve member 45 from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to misalign the elongated port 49 in the valve member 45 with the hole 51 in the valve disk 34. Continued movement will shift the radial groove 48 in valve 45 over the port. Pressure of the water in pipe I exerted against the underside of valve member I6 therein will force the valve upwardly and expel the water thereabove through the tube 25, opening 56 in the plate 33 and hole 51, through the radial groove 48 into the circular channel 83 from which it will flow through the drain tube 86 to a point outside of control unit 26. With the master valve II opened, water flows through pipe 58 into the antisiphon valve 6|. The valve member 69 in the latter will be forced upwardly against seat "I2 to close off the vent, and the water will flow to each of the various valves 59 controlling the separate groups of sprinklers. The valve member 45 prevents water under pressure in the chamber 35 from being exerted on the master valve I I by maintaining the hole 5! closed. When the lateral extension 46 of the valve member 45 moves over the first of the series of holes 82, communication between the valve 59 with which said first hole 82 in disk 34 is connected and the valve chamber 35 will be out off. As the arcuate groove 4'! is moved into registry with the first port 82, the water in the upper chamber 22 of that valve 59 will be expelled through the grooves 41 and 48 and channel 83 and thence through the drain tube 86 in response to the pressure of water in pipe against the underside of the valve member I6 as the latter is displaced from its seat, permitting water to flow to each of the sprinklers controlled by the valve thus opened. The valve 59 last named will remain opened until the arcuate groove 41 is again misaligned with the holes 82 leading to the valve. When this occurs the communication between the first hole 82 and the drain 86 will be shut 011' by the end of the lateral projection 46, which then slowly moves from said hole 82 and permits communication between the valve chamber 35 of the control unit 26 and the upper pressure chamber 22 of the particular valve 59 being actuated. Water from the chamber 35 will accordingly again flow through tube 89 into valve 59 to exert sufiicient pressure on the valve member I 6 therein to close the latter. Immediately thereafter the rotary valve 45 will be shifted sufficiently to register the arcuate groove 4'! with the second hole 82 in valve disk 34 to open the second of the series of sprinkler-group valves 59. Valves are thus opened and closed successively.

The hold 51 controlling entrance into tube leading to master valve II, and hole 82 communicat'ed with the last valve 59 of the series of individual sprinkler group valves, are spaced circumferentially so as to insure the alignment of the elongated port 49 in the valve member 45 just prior to the closing oif of the last valve 59 actuated. The valve member 45 will continue to r0- tate, however, until the lateral projection 46 of said valve member has uncovered the last hole 82 so as to enable water to pass from the control valve chamber into the upper chamber 22 of the last valve 59 to complete the cycle of opera tionfwhereupon the contact I01 will have been moved out of engagement with the fingers breaking the, circuit and stopping the motor.

Water may be supplied to any one of the various sprinkler-groups individually without a complete cycle of operation of the mechanism by manual adjustment of rotary valve 45. A handle (not shown) formedto fit the upper end of the valve stem M is provided by which the rotary valve may be turned so as to register the arcuate groove 41 in the valve member with the hole 82 in valve disk which is communicated with the pressure chamber 22 of the valve 59 controlling the sprinklers in the area to be watered. Unless the motor 96 is energized, water will flow to the selected group of sprinklers continuously until rotary valve 45 is again turned to open communication between the valve chamber 35 and the pressure chamber 22 of the open sprinkler group valve 59.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a sprinkler control system embodying a plurality of valves controlling separate groups of sprinklers adapted to be controlled manually or successively opened and closed automatically to supply water under full pressure of the main to each of the sprinkler groups, flow through the entire system being controlled by a master valve operable to open before any of the sprinkler valves open and to close off before the flow through the last sprinkler-group valve is closed, and, further, incorporating an anti-siphon valve interposed in the flowsystem between the master valve and individual sprinkler group valves.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that numerous changes in size, design, shape and proportion of the various parts may be made; that any conventional timing apparatus may be substituted for that shown and described; that the type of valves incorporated in the embodiment shown is only illustrative and not essential to the system as a unit; and that the apparatus for actuating the control unit mechanism may be varied in numerous .particularsall Without departing from the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a flow control system, a plurality of distributing valves, a water supply pipe leading to each of said distributing valves, a master valve interposed in said pipe to control the supply of Water to each of said distributing valves, a control unit to open said master valve for a predetermined period of time, said control unit comprising a circular head, a valve chamber within said head, said valve chamber having a floor, said floor bein provided with a plurality of ports, a valve member provided with a port and an arcuate groove and radial groove, said port and said groove being adapted to register selectively with corresponding ports in said valve chamber floor, a plate, a valve stem attached to said plate, and means adapted to resiliently hold said plate and said valve member in rotatable contact with said floor for selective rotatable registrywith ports therein to open and close each of said distributing valves successively, and to close said master valve before the closing of the last of said distributing valves.

2. In a flow control system, a plurality of distributing valves, a water supply pipe leading to each of said distributing valves, a master valve interposed in said conduit to control the supply of water to each of said distributing valves, 9.

11 chamber of said control unit, and to open communication between the pressure chamber or said master valve and the pressure chamber of said control unit during the opening of one of the conduits between one of the distributing valves and the pressure chamber 01 said control unit, the conduits connecting said distributing valves with the pressure chamber of said control unit being circuitously arranged, said rotary valve having a radial groove and an arcuate groove therein on the radius of the circle in whichsaid last-named conduits are disposed, and a vent connected with said radial groove whereby said rotary valve is operable to vent each of the pressure chambers of said master valve and of said distributing valves substantially coincidentally with the closure of the conduits between said pressure chamber of said control unit and said mastervalve and said distributing valves, respectively, means to rotate said rotary valve at a predetermined speed, and means to render said last-named means inoperable at the end of substantially one revolution of said rotary valve.

7. In a flow control system, a water supply pipe, a fluid-actuated master valve controlling flow through said pipe, a fluid-actuated distributing valve, a conduit leading from said master valve to said distributing Valve to conduct fluid from said pipe to said distributing valve, an antisiphon valve interposed in said conduit, a rotary valve, means to supply actuating fluid under pressure to said rotary valve, tubular means connecting said rotary valve with said master and distributing valves, respectively, for conducting actuating fluid under pressure to each of the latter valves to normally maintain said master and distributing valves closed, said rotary valve being operable inresponse to rotation to relieve pressure, transmitted through said tubular means, in said master valve and said distributing valve successively to permit said fluid-actuated valves to open in corresponding sequence, and upon further rotation to transmit actuating fluid under pressure in said rotary valve to said master valve and, thereafter, to said distributing valve through said tubular means to close said master valve and thereafter close said distributing valve to the flow of fluid from said water supply pipe.

8. In a flowcontrol system for a plurality of sprinklers, a water supply pipe, a master valve connected to said pipe, a plurality of distributing valves, a distributing pipe connecting said master valve with each of said distributing valves, an anti-siphon valve in said last-named pipe, flow through said distributing pipe being controlled by said master valve, said master and each of said distributing valves comprising a pressure chamber and a valve member reciprocable in said pressure chamber, said valve member being movable to closed positionin response to pressure introduced into said pressure chamber, a control unit comprising a valve mechanism, a conduit leading from said supply p pe to said. control unit, means to vent the pressure chamber of each of said master and distributing valves and means of communication between said control unit and said master and each of said distributing valves for the flow of pressure fluid from said conduit. said venting means and said means of communication being controlled by said valve mechanism, said valve mechanism being normally open to admit pressure fluid from said conduit to the pressure chambers of said master and of said distributing valves, and operable to sequentially close said means of communication between the pressure chamber of said master valve and said conduit, open said last-named pressure chamber to said venting means, close and again open the pressure chambers of all but one of said distributing valves to said conduit and open each of said last-named pressure chambers to said venting means while said chambers, respectively, are closed to the pressure of said conduit, and thereafter close the pressure chamber of said master valve to said venting means and open the same to said conduit.

9. In a flow control system, for a plurality of sprinklers, a water supply pipe, a master valve connected to said pipe, a plurality of distributing valves, a distributing pipe connecting said master valve with each of said distributing valves, an anti-siphon valve in said last-named pipe, flow through said distributing pipe being controlled by said master valve, said master and each of said distributing valves comprising a pressure chamber and a valve member reciprocable in said pressure chamber, said valve member being movable to closed position in response to pressure introduced into said pressure chamber, a control unit comprising a rotary valve mechanism, a conduit leading from said supply pipe to said control unit, means to vent the pressure chamber of each of said master and distributing valves and means of communication between said control unit and said master and each of said distributing valves for the flow of pressure fluid from said conduit, said venting means and said means of communication being controlled by said rotary valve mechanism, said valve mechanism being normally open to admit pressure fluid from said conduit to the pressure chambers of said master and of said distributing valves, and operable upon rotation to sequentially close said means of communication between the pressure chamber of said master valve and said conduit, open said last-named pressure chamber to said venting means, close and again open the pressure chambers of all but one of said distributing valves to said conduit and open each of said lastnamed pressure chambers to said venting means while said chambers, respectively, are closed to the pressure of said conduit, and thereafter close the pressure chamber of said master valve to said venting means and open the same to said conduit.

10. In a flow control system. a water supply pipe, 3, fluid actuated master valve controlling flow through said pipe, a pair of fluid-actuated distributing valves, a conduit leading from said master valve to said distributing valves, an antisiphon valve in said conduit, a control mechanism comprising a casing having a partition, said partition having an opening in which a circular plate is snugly fitted, a rotary valve disk superposed on said last-mentioned plate, and a valve chamber above said valve disk, means to supply fluid pressure to said valve chamber, conduits connected to each of said master and distributing valves extending through said partition and controlled by said rotary valve, said rotary valve being operable to sequentially close said master valve to pressure of said valve chamber of said control mechanism, close and open one of said distributing valves to the pressure of said valve chamber, close the second of said distributing valves to said pressure, open said master valve to said pressure and thereafter open said second distributing valve to the pressure of said valve chambers, and means to vent said master valve and each of said distributing valves during the respective open phases of said rotary valve.

GEORGE E. MOODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lang Nov. 9, 1926 Vennum Dec. 13, 1927 Number 

